The Pro-Lifer’s Survival Guide: Debating Objectively

Despite attempts by the mainstream media to twist the story around, reverse blame, or play dumb, the recent undercover videos of Planned Parenthood reps discussing price and procedure for the retrieval of organs from aborted children are damning enough to play in our favor.

No, technically there no crime was committed (that we know of), and yes, Planned Parenthood has been doing this for quite some time.

But in the end, none of that is really here nor there, because the best thing these videos did is rip the carpet right out from under the “it’s not a human, it’s a fetus/product of conception/blob of cells” talking point that so many supporters use to side step the God-awful truth about abortion.

And this is very, very, very good.

But.

How we proceed from here is extremely important to the cause. We have an opportunity to finally work our way out of the muck and tar of “women’s rights” and “choice” and start moving into more truthful territory. But we have to tread carefully, because this new advantage, while powerful, is also very fragile.

Let’s not forget that nearly every major media outlet let this story sit for 24 hours before nimbly coming out with watered down, heavily edited reports. Many of these outlets skipped right over objective reporting and went straight to the defense of Planned Parenthood. Only the most conservative publications came out against Planned Parenthood, but that’s not very helpful when you’re fighting abortion from within the Left Wing.

At the same time, these conservative pro-life journalists (in true form, no less) made, and continue to make, the mistake of celebrating too quickly and publishing stories that use outdated or embellished information.

Take this story from LifeNews, for example (http://bit.ly/1OuvbuL). The claim that these companies “no longer” give to Planned Parenthood is true. But it’s been true for over a decade. Yet, the headline would make it seem that this is a direct result of the videos.

This is the kind of action that is going to see us kicked right back down to the bottom of the hill. No matter how minor an infraction, no matter how little overzealous some may be, the media, the law, and the Constitution itself stand against us. We can’t afford to take liberties. If we’re going to move forward, we have to be smart and objective.

With that said, here are a few, quick “survival tips” I’ve put together to help navigate this positive, yet fragile, territory.

1. Don’t Get Distracted

It’s a hoax. It’s dishonest. It’s legal. It’s just like any other organ donation. They aren’t doing it for profit.

These are just some of the talking points being thrown out by defenders of Planned Parenthood. Do not follow them down the rabbit hole.

To be fair, quotes like, “Let me just figure out what others are getting, and if this is in the ballpark, then it’s fine, if it’s still low, then we can bump it up. I want a Lamborghini,” seem awful damning, and I would agree that they are. But they leave just enough room to backfire.

Don’t get too focused on the haggling or the context of which it’s discussed. Focus instead on the fact that regardless of legality or context, the women in the videos have inadvertently shed light on the truth of abortion: it extinguishes human life.

“…we’ve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I’m not gonna crush that part, I’m gonna basically crush below, I’m gonna crush above, and I’m gonna see if I can get it all intact.”

That’s human heart, lungs, and liver she’s talking about.

Stay Objective

The abortion debate is obviously emotionally charged, and it’s sometimes easy to let those emotions get the better of us. When this happens, we lose our objectivity, and that’s something we can’t afford.

No matter how wrong we believe they are, we have to seriously consider any and all counter points that come from the pro-abortion side. Sometimes truths arise that change the course of the debate. Ignoring those truths and continuing with the same narrative does nothing but harm and discredit our stance.

For example: trying to say that Planned Parenthood acted illegally, when, as it currently stands, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that they did not.

Stay up to date on what the other side is saying. Consider it. Compare it. Move forward. And when you come across misinformed or dishonest pro-life journalism, don’t ignore it. Call it out, and use that to lead to something truthful.

Don’t Celebrate Until There is a Clear Victory

We haven’t won anything yet. We’ve just gained an advantage, and we shouldn’t mistake advantage for victory. Truthfully, there’s nothing to celebrate, not even slightly, especially since this advantage comes to us in a startling, horrifying way. There is no happiness in that. There is no “gotcha” moment. There is only painful truth.

We are a long, long, long way from victory. Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry in general have been weathering attacks for years and they’ve always come out unscathed. The chances of the federal government launching an investigation into Planned Parenthood is next to zero (in fact, they’re actually investigating the organization responsible for the videos), and even if the government does look into the organization, PP’s lobby is powerful, and able to deflect any real inquisition.

Right now, DFLA is involved in a major push to take funding from Planned Parenthood and allocate it to health services clinics that are A: more numerous across the country, and B: offer the same services sans abortion. This is a campaign that, if successful, is much more likely to yield the results we seek.

However, it’s never going to happen if we don’t get the country behind it. That’s why our first priority should be to focus on changing hearts and minds, and the best way to do that is to stay objective, fair, and present the truth.

Despite decades of setback, this is not a lost fight. The pro-life movement is stronger than ever, and the emergence of pro-life feminists, atheists, and of course, Democrats, only makes it stronger. We very well could see the end of abortion in our country in our lifetime. We just have to fight smart.

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The Whole Life Democrat: A Project of Democrats For Life of America

In Honor of Governor Robert Casey and Sargent & Eunice Shriver

In 1992, Robert Casey and Sargent and Eunice Shriver took out a full page ad in the New York Times outlining A New American Compact: Caring about Women, Caring for the Unborn. It spoke to the heart of the consistent life ethic and whole life principles we share as Pro-Life Democrats. The writers on this blog, a project of Democrats for Life of America, look to promote the best of the Democratic tradition, which is articulated so eloquently in this compact, for the respect and dignity for the whole person.